Kayleigh McEnany, former White House Press Secretary under President Donald Trump, headlined Revive California’s inaugural event this July in Pasadena, CA. Organized and led by Che Ahn, founding pastor of Harvest Rock Church, Revive California hosted its event meant to mobilize leaders in California to bring about revival and reformation. McEnany was joined by Dutch Sheets as the headline speakers for the event.
McEnany encouraged the attendees at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena about her own journey from a small town in Florida to world-renowned universities, to interning under Bush, to running the Trump Campaign media relations, to accepting the role as White House Press Secretary. McEnany shared the role faith has played in her own personal life, as well as the way it’s informed her worldview and views on hot topics including abortion. She called out America for its waywardness on the issue of abortion in the past and how the practices of our nation on abortion were in line with China and North Korea, until the recent Supreme Court ruling. However, she still believes abortion has left what she called “a stain” on the conscience of our nation, having killed over 60 million babies, nearly 1/3 of our current population.
“It is not a woman’s right to choose, it’s a baby’s right to live,” shared McEnany who related that the issue of life is one that has resonated with her even when she was a young child. “Finally we are returning to a nation that values life and that should be a cause of hope for everyone,” she stated.
Yet she also said that we are at a crossroads in our country. “There are positive changes in the right direction, thanks to the work of the Supreme Court, but we are still at a crossroads,” she continued.
As for her faith and the call of God to media and the White House. “For such a time as this,” was the word that God spoke to her multiple times from various people including her father and CNN Journalist Van Jones, referencing the book of Esther. It was these words that she held on to as she advised President Trump, and spoke to the media in the midst of one of the most trying times in our nation. “A tall order,” McEnany described the situation she found herself in. Yet, she could feel the prayers of God’s people holding her and the administration up during a time of great shaking in our nation.
McEnany shared the role faith has played and how it’s served as an anchor for her and informed her responses to high-pressure situations. Verses including Proverbs 15:1, Galatians 5:22-23, and 1 Peter 3:15 inform how she responds to opponents, and the high pressures of Washington. Now with her show on FOX at noon each weekday, McEnany consistently comes back to faith to ground her. A faith that became personal to her while she was living on her own in New York City. Though raised Southern Baptist, it wasn’t until she was completely alone in the Big Apple, that she finally called on God. In that very moment, she received a phone call from Journey Church asking if there was anything she needed prayer for. It was at this moment that she knew God was with her, and the rest is history. Prayer is now a regular part of her day and the peace and serenity she feels even in high-pressure media briefs, she knows is from the Lord. She encouraged those in attendance to share their stories and be unequivocal in our belief and faith in Jesus Christ.
Today she is married to Sean Gilmartin, a professional MLB pitcher for the New York Mets, has a two year old daughter and is five months pregnant with her next child.
As for her closing words and summary of her speech:
“Know this, everyone in his room was made for such a time as this.”
